Lakers center Dwight Howard falls to the court and grabs his right shoulder in pain in Wednesday's loss at the Phoenix Suns. / Rob Schumacher, AP

by Rachel Shuster, USA TODAY Sports

by Rachel Shuster, USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Lakers' roller coaster season took another turn south Wednesday when Dwight Howard aggravated the right shoulder injury that has limited what the 6-11 center can do for the preseason Western Conference contenders.

UPDATE: The Lakers said Thursday that Howard would take his injury on a day-to-day basis but not need surgery, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Coach Mike D'Antoni said he thinks the injury is something that Howard will have to deal with all season -- which means it's something the Lakers must contend with as they try to get back on a track just to make the playoffs.

Howard left Wednesday's 92-86 loss at the Phoenix Suns, the first of a seven-game Lakers' road trip, with less than seven minutes to play and Los Angeles ahead 78-73.

Without any inside presence, the Lakers were easy pickings for the Suns, who outscored them 19-12 down the stretch and ended Los Angeles' three-game winning streak.

Howard, saying the shoulder is "real sore," wasn't speaking as confidently as his coach after writhing in pain after former Laker Shannon blocked his shot with 6:57 to go in the game.

"Everything on (the right) side (of my body) is hurting pretty bad right now," Howard told reporters of what was his worst pain since the original injury came Jan. 4 in a loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.

"I'm going to try as much as I can but I don't want to cause more damage to my shoulder," said Howard, averaging 16.5 points, his lowest since 2005-06 and 11.9 rebounds, his lowest since his rookie 2005-06 season.

"I don't want to (miss any games), but we'll see."

And Howard didn't rule out surgery, which he is quite familiar with after an offseason dealing with back trouble. "Not right now," he said.

Kobe Bryant tried to put a good face on what has been one of many disappointments in this 20-26 Lakers season.

"I'm not worried about it. It's going to be an all-season thing," Bryant told reporters. "That's how those types of injuries are with the labrum. I've had them before. Lamar (Odom), when he was here, had them before. It's one of those things when you get banged like that going up, you're going to get that stinging sensation.